Former President Lula vows to contest Brazils elections from jail
News & Trends •
brazils former president luiz inacio lula da silva says he is very much a candidate in the elections coming up in october despite having been in jail for a month the newspaper folha de sao paulo reported monday1 the message was given by theologian leonardo boff who visited lula in prison in the southern city of curitiba1 lula will only renounce his candidacy if it is proven that he owned a penthouse which he allegedly renovated in a corrupt deal according to boff1 he wants to return to power to give a central place to brazilian policies for the poor boff was quoted as saying1 lula was jailed on april 8 after being sentenced to 12 years for corruption and money-laundering in connection with the renovation of a beachside penthouse1 the renovation was bankrolled by a company seeking contracts with the state oil giant petrobras1 lulas lawyers have launched an appeal process in an attempt to overturn his conviction so he can contest the october 7 elections. opinion polls indicate he would win these with a large majority if he were to run1 lulas workers party has said it has no plan b in case he is not allowed to represent it in the elections. however brazils electoral tribunal is expected to bar him from the poll1